Blowout preventer for arrangement in wells



Nov. 19, 1957 w. M. O'REILLY BLOWOUT PREVEN'IER FOR ARRANGEMET IN WELLS Filed Deo. 21,` 1954 BLOWOUT PREVENTER FOR ARRANGEMENT llN WELLS Wallace M. GReilly, Houston, Tex., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Esso Research and Engineering Com-- pany, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application December 21, 1954, Serial No. 476,616

Claims. (Cl. 166-199) The present invention is directed to a subsurface blowout preventer. More particularly, the invention has to do with a blowout preventer adapted to be arranged in a tubing string and located in a well below the normal level from which operations are conducted. In its more specific aspects, the invention has to do with a subsurface blowout preventer which will operate automatically to close oli the tubing and the annulus between the tubing and the casing.

The present invention may be briefly described as a subsurface blowout preventer which is adapted to be connected in a tubing string in a well casing arranged in a well drilled from the earths surface. The blowout preventer of the present invention comprises a first tubular mandrel adapted to form part of and to be connected into a tubing string. The lirst mandrel has a second mandrel slidably mounted thereon or carried coaxially which is normally biased to a first position. The mandrels define a pressure chamber therebetween which is supplied with fluid pressure through a conduit which is adapted to extend to a source of pressure at the earths surface.

The iirst mandrel is provided with spaced apart ports and adapted to be arranged within the first mandrel between the spaced apart ports is a closure means such as a retrievable or removable tubing plug which has a longitudinal passageway therein in which is arranged a valve which will permit fluid to be pumped down the tubing but which will resist passage of liuid upwardly through the longitudinal passageway.

The second or slidable mandrel is provided with longitudinal passageways for fluidly communicating uid from below the plug to above the plug in the tubing. Mounted on the slidable mandrel is an expansible cup-type packer member which is adapted to be expanded into position by movement of a tapered member, the tapered member being adapted to move upwardly on application of pressure supplied through a longitudinal passageway in the slidable mandrel which communicates with the interior of the tubing through the lower of the spaced apart ports. The second mandrel is normally biased to a first position by a biasing means and the tapered member is also normally biased to a first position by a biasing means, both biasing means being arranged on the lirst mandrel and between the first and second mandrels.

The present invention Will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view of the upper portion of the device of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the device shown in Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawing, numeral 11 designates a well casing arranged in a well bore drilled in the earths surface. A tubing string 12 is arranged in the casing 11 and has attached thereto,` by tubing coupling 13, a mandrel 14. The lower end of the mandrel 14 is connected by tubing coupling 15 to the lower portion 16 of the tubing string 12. The mandrel 14 is provided with spaced apart E ports 17 and 18 for lluid communication through the passageway P in the mandrel 14 and the tubing 12. The mandrel 14 has an outwardly extending shoulder 19, a landing seat 20, and an upwardly extending annular cupshaped member 21.

Adapted to be arranged in the mandrel 14 and seating in the seating member 20 is a retrievable or removable plug 22 which has a longitudinal passageway 23 therethrough which enlarges in the lower portion thereof to form a valve chamber 24 provided with a spherical valve member 25 biased by a biasing means 26 against a valve seat 27. The upper end ofthe retrievable plug 22 has a iishing neck 28 for retrieving the plug 22 from the tubing when desired.

Mounted coaxially in sliding relationship to the mandrel 14 is a slidable or movable mandrel 29 which forms a pressure chamber 30 with the exterior surface of the mandrel 14. Arranged between the outwardly extending shoulder 19 of the mandrel 14 and the inwardly extending shoulder 31 of the mandrel 29 is a biasing means 32, such as a helical coil spring, which normally biases the mandrel 29 to a iirst position as shown in the drawing. A recess 14 in mandrel 29 provides a chamber 33 with the mandrel 14 which is in liuid communication with port 17. The space 33 tluidly communicates with ports 13 by means of a multiplicity or plurality of passageways 34.

Connected to the mandrel 29 by an annular member 35 is a cup-type packer 36 which is suitably constructed of deformable material, such as synthetic or natural rubber. In operative engagement with the cup packer 36 is an expander member 37 which has a tapered or conical surface 38 which is embraced by the lower end of the packer 36. The expander member 37 has its lower end 39 arranged within the annular cup-shaped member 21.

The tapered or expander member 37 has a plurality of longitudinally extending passageways 4l) extending therethrough into a chamber 41 in the cup-shaped member 21. Arranged within the longtiudinal passageways 4t) are tubular members 42 which are attached to conduits or passageways 43 in the mandrel 29 and communicate with a chamber 44 defined by the mandrel 29 and the mandrel 14. The upper end 45 of the expander member 37 and the lower end of the mandrel 29 has a biasing means, such as a helical coil spring 46, arranged therebetween which normally biases the expander member 37 into a first position as shown in the drawing.

The slidable or movable mandrel 29 s provided with sealing members 47, sealing members 49 and sealing members 51 to provide a pressure-type seal for the mandrel 14. The mandrel 14 has sealing members 53 which provide a seal with the mandrel 29. A seal is provided between the cup-shaped member 21 and the lower end 39 of the expander member 37 by sealing members 55 and 56.

The tubular members 42 which are slidably arranged in the passageway 40 are each provided with annular sealing rings 59 to provide a pressure-type seal with the walls of passageway 40.

Pressure is supplied to the pressure chamber 30 by a conduit 60 which is adapted to extend to the earths surface and which is connected to the mandrel 29 by a threaded connection 61 and to a passageway 62 which communicates with the chamber 30. Conduit 60 may be provided with sealed slip joint 60a to compensate for travel of mandrel 49. Passageways 63 and 64 allow pressure to be bled olf from chamber 41 through annular space 65 and space 66 through which tubes 42 extend and which contains the spring 46.

In the figures of the drawing the blowout preventer is shown as an integral part of the tubing string and in an inoperative position. In this position the passageways 34 serve to maintain iluid communication between the ports 17 and 18 and allow lluid passage from below the closure member or plug 22 through the ports i8, passageways 3d into chamber 33 and through ports T7 back into passageway P.

When it is desired to conduct operations down the passageway P without removing the plug 22, duid may be flowed downwardly therethrough by pumping iluid down the passageway P and unseating the valve member 25 from the seat 27 by the pressure overcoming the spring 24.

ln the operations of the subsurface blowout preventer, the desired pressure is applied tcthe pressure chamber 3b through the conduit 6b to move the mandrel 29 upwardly relative to the mandrel M and to compress the spring 32. ln this position of the mandrel Z9 the ports 18 are opposite and adjacent the passageway 34 and pas sage of iiuid is possible to the chamber 353 and thence upwardly through the ports i7 into the passageway P. The spring member or biasing means 46 is normally extended to retain the expander member 37 in its lowermost position to permit the packer 36 to remain in an unexpanded condition so that communication may be obtainable, if desired, through the tubing-casing annulus A.

When pressure is reduced in the chamber 3l), either by mishap to surface facilities or deliberately by manipulation, the spring or biasing means 32 Vexpands against the shoulder ll9 of the mandrel le to move the lmandrel 29 downwardly relative to the mandrel M. This downward movement rearranges the porting system so that ow through the ports 18 of the mandrel 14 is isolated from the passageways 34 by the intermediate of the seals 51 and iiow is then directed into the alternate ow passage 43. Downward movement of the mandrel 29 causes initial expansion of the packer 3.5 on the conical surface 38 of the packer expander member 37 and positions the tubular members d2 from the iiow passages d3 such that the pressure relief ports d3 are isolated between the packing rings 59 on the tubing d2. Flow from the well is thus introduced through the ports l of the mandrel lla into the passageways i3 and into the chamber dl through the passageway titl. This pressure works against the lower end 39 of the packer expander member 37 as a piston and moves the member 37 slidably upwardly to expand the packer member 36 into sealing engagement with the interior walls of the casing 1.1. This provides an effective seal in the tubing-casing annulus A and prevents uncontrolled flow inside the tubing.

If it is desired to pump into the well bore beneath the subsurface blowout preventer, this may be accomplished by pumping down through the passageway Z3 unseating the valve 25 from the seat 27.

T he subsurface blowout preventer is restored to normal production arrangement by exerting pressure through the tubing or conduit e@ to the chamber 3l). The piston action of the mandrel Z9 causes same to move upwardly with respect to the mandrel l@ compressing the spring 32. In this upward movement, the tubular members 42 follow the mandrel 29 and uncover the pressure relief ports 63 permitting release of the pressure entrapped in the chamber All of the cup-shaped member 2l. The flow path of pressure released from the chamber dll is into the passageway d@ through port 63 and thence through annular space 65 into the annular-space 66 and then into the annulus A through the ports 64.

As pressure is released from the chamber di, the spring member 46 extends to its normal position and returns the packer expander member 37 to its lowermost position al* lowing the packer 36 to retract for re-establishment of communications through the tubing-casing annulus A. Upward movement of the mandrel 29 with respect to the inner mandrel lid restores the porting system so that again the dow passages 34 are opposite and adjacent the ports liti of the mandrel lli and normal production is established as has been described heretofore.

If a full-'opening tubing is desired, the retrievable plug 22 may be removed by engagement with a Wire line iishing tool.

lt will be seen from the foregoing description taken with the drawing that an automatically operating subsurface blowout preventer has been provided. It will be further seen that the pressure below the device serves to maintain a seal with the packer 36 and thus eectively serves to control itself.

ln the foregoing description and in the claims where the term earths surface is used, this is meant to include sea level or where operations are conducted from marine locations and especially offshore operations where it is desirable and necessary to control wells, such as oil and gas wells, by means located below the mud and/or water level.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful and to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A blowout preventer for cased and tubed wells adapted to seal the annulus between said casing and said tubing comprising a first tubular mandrel connected in said tubing and having an outwardly extending shoulder, a second mandrel slidably arranged on said first mandrel and movable between first and second positions and being formed to provide an internally recessed portion, said shoulder being positioned in said recessed portion and sealingly engaging said second mandrel to provide a pressure chamber on one side of said shoulder, a conduit fluidly interconnecting said pressure chamber and a source of fluid pressure, biasing means arranged in said recessed portion on the other side of said shoulder adapted to urge said second mandrel to said second position, an expander member arranged on said first mandrel and having a tapered packer engaging surface, and an exp-an sible packer member secured to said second mandrel and engaging with said tapered surface adapted to close off said tubing-casing annulus upon movement of said second mandrel from said first to said second position.

2. A blowout preventer for cased and tubed wells adapted to seal the annulus between said casing and said tubing comprising a tubular mandrel connected in said tubing and having an outwardly extending shoulder arranged thereon intermediate its length, iluid pressure movable means slidably arranged on said mandrel and movable between first and second positions, biasing means arranged on said mandrel adapted to urge said fluid pressure movable means to said second position, means connected to said fluid pressure movable means fluidly communicating said iiuid pressure movable means and a source of fluid pressure for supplying uid pressure to said fluid pressure movable means to move said fluid pressure movable means against the urging of said biasing means, an expanded member arranged on said mandrel and having a tapered packer engaging surface, and an expansible packer member secured to said fluid pressure movable means and engaging with said tapered surface adapted to close off said tubing-casing annulus when said iiuid pressure movable means moves from said rst to said second position.

3. A blowout preventer for cased and tubed wells adapted to seal the annulus between said casing and tubing and to close olf liuid flow through said casing comprising a first tubular mandrel connected in said tubing and having an outwardly extending shoulder and a landing nipple arranged thereon intermediate its length, a second mandrel slidably arranged on said first mandrel and movable between first and second positions and provided with an internally recessed portion, said shoulder being positioned in said recessed portion and sealingly engaging said second mandrel to provide a pressure chamber on one side of said shoulder, a conduit uidly inter-connecting said pressure chamber and a source of fluid pressure, biasing means arranged in said recessed gemss portion on the other side of said shoulder adapted to urge said second mandrel to said second position, an expander member arranged on said first mandrel and having a tapered packer engaging surface, an expansible packer member secured to said second mandrel and engaging with said tapered surface adapted to close 01T said tubingcasing annulus when said second mandrel moves from said first to said second position and removable closure means arranged on said landing nipple adapted to close olf fluid flowing upwardly through said tubing.

4. A blowout preventer for cased and tubed wells adapted to seal the annulus between said casing and tubing and to close off fluid flow through said tubing comprising a tubular mandrel connected in said tubing and having an outwardly extending shoulder and a landing nipple arranged thereon intermediate its length, fluid pressure movable means sldably arranged on said mandrel and movable between first and second positions, biasing means arranged on said mandrel adapted to urge said fluid pressure movable means to said second position, fluid conducting means connected to said fluid pressure movable means fluidly communicating said fluid pressure movable means and a source of fluid pressure for supplying fluid pressure to said fluid pressure movable means to move `said fluid pressure movable means against the urging of said biasing means, an expander member arranged on said mandrel and having a tapered surface, an expansible packer member secured to said fluid pressure movable means and engaging with said tapered surface adapted to close off said tubing-casing annulus when said fluid pressure movable means is in said second position, and removable closure means arranged on said landing nipple adapted to close off fluid fiowi g upwardly through said tubing.

5. A blowout preventer for cased and tubed wells adapted to seal the annulus between said casing and said tubing comprising a first tubular mandrel connected in said tubing and having an annular cup-shaped member, an outwardly extending shoulder and vertically spaced apart ports arranged thereon intermediate its length; a second mandrel slidably arranged on said first mandrel and movable between first and second positions and provided with an internally recessed portion, a first passageway and a second passageway, said shoulder being positioned in said recessed portion and sealingly engaging said second mandrel to provide a first pressure chamber on one side of said shoulder; a first conduit fluidly communicating said first pressure chamber and a source of fluid pressure; first biasing means arranged in said recessed portion on the other side of said shoulder adapted to urge said second mandrel to said second position; a movable expander member movable between first and second positions arranged in said cup-shaped member and having a tapered packer engaging surface, a third passageway and a fourth passageway, said fourth passageway fluidly communicating with said third passageway intermediate its ends and also fluidly communicating with said annulus, said expander member sealingly engaging said cupshaped member to provide a second pressure chamber in said cup-shaped member; a second conduit open at both ends connected to said second mandrel and extending into said third passageway in said expander member fluidly communicating said second passageway and said second pressure chamber; said second and fourth passageways being in fluid communication through said second conduit when said second mandrel is in said first position; packing rings on said second conduit for sealing off between said third passageway wall and said second conduit adapted to seal off fluid communication between said fourth passageway and said third passageway below said fourth passageway when said second mandrel is in said second position; an expansible packer member se- ;cured ,to said second mandrel and engaging with said tapered surface adapted to close off said tubing-casing annulus, said first passageway jfluidly communicating said spaced apart ports when said second mandrel is in said first position, said second passageway fiuidly communicating one of said spaced apart ports and said second pressure chamber when said second mandrel is in said second position; and second biasing means positioned between said second mandrel and said expander member adapted to urge said expander member to said first position.

6. A blowout preventer for cased and tubed wells adapted to seal the annulus between said casing and said tubing comprising a tubular mandrel connected in said tubing and having an annular cup-shaped member, an outwardly extending shoulder and vertically spaced apart ports arranged thereon intermediate its length; fluid pressure movable means sldably arranged on. said mandrel and movable between first and second positions; first biasing means arranged on said mandrel adapted to urge said fluid pressure movable means to said second position; fluid conducting means connected to said fluid pressure movable means fluidly communicating said fluid pressure movable means and a source of fluid pressure for supplying fluid pressure to said fluid pressure movable means to move said fluid pressure movable means against the urging of said first biasing means; an expander member movable between rst and second positions and arranged in said cup-shaped member and having a tapered packer engaging surface, a third passageway and a fourth passageway, said fourth passageway fluidly communicating with said third passageway intermediate its ends and also fluidly communicating with said annulus, said expander member sealingly engaging said cup-shaped member to provide a pressure chamber in said cup-shaped member, a conduit open at both ends connected to said fluid pressure movable means and extending into said third passageway fluidly communicating said second passageway and said pressure chamber; said second and fourth passageway being in fluid communication through said conduit when said fluid pressure movable means is in said first position; packing rings on said conduit for sealing off between said third passageway wall and said conduit adapted to seal ofi fluid communication between said fourth passageway and said third passageway below said fourth passageway when said fluid pressure movable means is in said second position; and an expansible packer member secured to said fluid pressure movable means and engaging with said tapered surface adapted to close oil said tubing-casing annulus, said first passageway fluidly communicating said spaced apart ports when said fluid pressure movable means is in said first position, said second passageway fluidly communicating one of said spaced apart ports and said conduit when said uid pressure movable means is in said second position; and second biasing means positioned between said fluid pressure movable means and said expander member adapted to urge said expander member to said first position.

7. A blowout preventer for cased and tubed wells adapted to seal the annulus between said casing and said tubing comprising a tubular mandrel connected in said tubing and having a annular cup-shaped member and vertically spaced apart ports arranged thereon intermediate its length; rst duid pressure movable means slidably arranged on said mandrel movable between first and second positions; first biasing means arranged on said mandrel adapted to urge said first fluid pressure movable means to said second position; fluid conducting means connected to said rst fluid pressure movable means lluidly communicating said fluid pressure movable means and a source of fluid pressure for supplying fluid pressure to said first fluid pressure movable means to move said rst fluid pressure movable means against the urging of said first biasing means; a second fluid pressure movable means having tirst and second positions arranged in said cup-shaped member, said second fluid pressure movable means being provided with a tapered packer engaging surface, a third passageway and a fourth passageway, said fourth passageway fluidly communicating with said third passageway intermediate its ends and also fluidly communicating with said annulus; means interconnecting said first and second iiuid pressure movable means fluidly communicating said second passageway and said second fluid pressure movable means, said interconnecting means being provided with sealing means adapted to seal off between said third passageway wall and said interconnecting means to seal oif fiuid communication between said fourth passageway and said third passageway below said fourth passageway when said first fluid pressure movable means is in said second position, and an expansible packer member secured to said first tiuid pressure movable means and engaging with said tapered surface adapted to close off said tubing-casing annulus, said first passageway fiuidly communicating said spaced apart ports when said first fluid pressure movable means is in said first position, said second passageway fluidly communicating one of said spaced apart ports and said second fluid pressure movable means when said first pressure movable means is in said second position.

8. A blowout preventer for cased and tubed wells adapted to seal the annulus between said casing and tubing and to close off iiuid iiow through said casing comrising a first tubular mandrel connected in said tubing and having an annular cup-shaped member, an outwardly extending shoulder, vertically spaced apart ports, and a landing nipple arranged thereon intermediate its length; a second mandrel slidably arranged on said first mandrel and movable between first and second positions and provided with an internally recessed portion, a first passageway and a second passageway, said shoulder being positioned in said recessed portion and sealingly engaging said second mandrel to provide a first pressure chamber on one side of said shoulder; a first conduit liuidly communicating said first pressure chamber and a source of iiuid pressure; rst biasing means arranged in said recessed portion on the other side of said shoulder adapted to urge said second mandrel to said second position; a movable expander member movable between first and second positions arranged in said cup-shaped member and having a tapered packer engaging surface, a third passageway and a fourth passageway, said fourth `passageway iiuidly communicating with said third passageway intermediate its ends and also fluidly communicating with said annuius, said expander member sealingly engaging said cup-shaped member to provide a second pressure chamber in said cup-shaped member; a second conduit open at both ends connected to said second mandrel and extending into said third passageway in said expander member iluidly communicating said second passageway and said second pressure chamber; said second and fourth nassaseways being7 in uid communication through said second conduit when said second mandrel is in said first position; packing rings ou said second conduit for sealing off between said third passageway wall and said second conduit adapted to seal off fluid communication between said fourth passageway and said third passageway below said fourth passageway when said second mandrel is in said second position; an expansible packer member secured to said second mandrel and engaging with said tapered surface adapted to close off said tubing-casing annulus, said first passageway iiuidly communicating said spaced apart ports when said second mandrel is in said first position, said second passageway fluidly communicating one of said spaced apart ports and said second pressure chamber when said second mandrel is in said second position; second biasing means positioned between said second mandrel and said Vexpander member adapted to urge said expander member to said first position and removable closure means arranged on said landing nipple adapted to close off fluid iiowing upwardly through said tubing.

9. A blowout preventer for cased and tubed wells adapted to seal the annulus between said casing and tubing and to close off fluid flow through Said tubing comprising a tubular mandrel connected in -said tubing and having an annular cupehaped member, an outwardly extending shoulder, vert' ily Aspaced apart ports y and a landing nipple arranged thereon intermediate its length; fluid pressure movable means slidably arranged on said mandrel and movable between first and second positions; first biasing means arranged on said mandrel adapted to urge said fluid pressure movable means to said second position; fluid conducting means connected to said fluid pressure movable means iiuidiy communicating said fluid pressure movable means and a source yof fiuid pressure for supplying yfluid pressure to lsaid fiuid pressure movable means to move said fluid pressure movable means against the urging of said `first biasing means; au expander member movable between Ifirst and second positions arranged in said cup-shaped member and having a tapered packer engaging surface, a third passageway and a fourth passageway, said fourth passageway iiuidly communicating with 4said third passageway intermediate its ends and yalso fluidly communicating with said annulus, said expander member seaiingly engaging said cup-shaped member to provide a pressure chamber in said cup-shaped member; a conduit open at both ends connected to said iiuid `pressure movable means and ex,-` tending into said third passageway uidly communicating said second passageway and said pressure chamber; said second and fourth passageway `being in liuid communication through said conduit when said fluid pressure movable means is in said first position; packing rings on said conduit for sealing off between said third passageway wall and said conduit adapted to seal off iiuid communication between said fourth passageway and said third passageway below vsaid fourth passageway when said fiuid pressure movable means is in said second position; and an expansible packer member secured to said iiuid pressure movable means and engaging with said tapered surface adapted to close off said tubing-casing annulus, said first passageway iiuidly communicating said spacedapart ports when ysaid fluid pressure movable means is in said first position, said second passageway fluidly communicating one of said spaced-apart ports and said conduit when said fiuid pressure movable means is in said second position; second biasing means positioned between said iluid pressure movable means and said ei;- pander member adapted to urge said expander member to said first position and removable closure means arranged on said landing nipple adapted to close off fluid fiowing upwardly through said tubing.

lO. A blowout preventer for cased and tubed wells adapted to seal the annulus between said casing and tubing and to 'close off iiuid flow through said tubing cornprising a tubular mandrel connected to said tubing and having an annular cup-shaped member, vertically spaced apart ports and a landing nipple arranged thereon intermediate its length; first iiuid pressure movable means slidably arranged on said mandrel movable between first and second positions; first biasing means arranged on said mandrel adapted to urge said first fluid pressure movable means to said second position; fluid conducting means connected to said first fluid pressure movable means iiuidly communicating said fluid pressure movable means and a source of fluid pressure for supplying iiuid pressure to said first fluid pressure movable means t0 move said first fluid pressure movable means against the urging of said first biasing means; a second uid pressure movable means having first and second positions arranged in said cup-shaped member, said second iiuid pressure movable means being provided with a. tapered packer engaging surface, a third passageway and a fourth passageway, said fourth passageway fluidly communicating with said third passageway intermediate its ends and also fluidly communicating with said annulus; means interconnecting said first and second Huid pressure movable means fluidly communicating said second passageway and said second fluid pressure movable means, said interconnecting means being prc-vided with sealing means adapted to seal oi between said third passageway wall and said interconnecting means to seal ofI uid communication between said fourth and said third passageways below said fourth passageway when said first uid pressure movable means is in said second position, an expansible packer member secured to said rst fluid pressure movable means and engaging with said tapered surface adapted to close off said tubing-casing annulus, said rst passageway uidly communicating said spaced apart ports when said first fluid pressure movable means is in said first position, said second passageway iuidly communieating one of said spaced-apart ports and said second uid pressure movable means when said first pressure movable means is in said second position and removable closure means arranged on said landing nipple adapted to close olf fluid owing upwardly through said tubing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,801,353 Lane Apr. 21, 1931 2,370,832 Baker Mar. 6, 1945 2,715,943 True Aug. 23, 1955 

